CC04
Variable Cross-Referencing Macros - Tools for When Base SAS Isn’t Enough
Contributed
Frank C. DiIorio
CodeCrafters, Inc.
Abstract:
Sometimes it’s hard to believe how powerful the SAS tool set is. Conversely, sometimes it’s hard to believe that the tool set doesn’t contain something which seems so useful, so patently obvious, that you simply think you haven’t looked in the right place
in the documentation. This paper describes a set of macros that are in the "I can’t believe they left it out" category. Specifically, the need is for a cross-reference of variable by data set. The macros create reports showing which variables are in the us
er-specified data sets. The reports also highlight discrepancies in data type and/or lengths between the data sets. The paper presents the code for the two macros, shows several types of output from the reporting macro, and suggests how the core functional
ity of the macros can be extended beyond simple reporting.
Biography:
Frank DiIorio is Director, SAS System Development at Advanced Integrated Manufacturing Solutions Corporation (AIMS), a manufacturing systems integrator. He has over 25 years' experience with Base SAS and products such as SAS/GRAPH, SAS/AF, SAS/GRAPH, SAS/Q
C, SAS/Intrnet, and SAS/FSP. He has worked in educational research, financial, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing environments, focusing on program efficiency, report writing, the macro language, and user interface design issues.
Much of the knowledge gaine
d from these varied work environments has been committed to paper - he has written many papers presented at local, regional, and international SAS user groups. Frank is also the author of two SAS programming texts, which have sold over 25,000 copies ("SAS
Applications Programming: A Gentle Introduction" and, co-authored with Kenneth Hardy, "Quick Start to Data Analysis with SAS"). A third book, "The Elements of SAS Programming Style," is being developed and will be available in 2002.
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